There are plenty of times where people have the desire to go
out and about, but don’t have the desire to spend money. Luckily for us
Hoosiers, there are plenty of free activities do that are worth checking out!
1. The Albanese Factory Tour (Merrillville)
Known for its tasty gummy treats,
the Albanese Confectionary Group offers free factory tours complete with free
samples! Viewers will be able to view the candy making process through 8
different windows and 3 videos. You may elect to take a self-guided tour or
guided tour, though guided tours need to be scheduled in advance. Tours are
open May-October and January-February. Their website also boasts that they are
the only candy company in the USA to offer a tour of gummy manufacturing.
2. Sunken Gardens (Huntington)
Sunken Gardens is a hidden gem in
Huntington. It was originally intended to be a stone quarry, but it was
eventually abandoned. In time, it was turned into a beautiful garden area. It
looks incredible in the spring with all of the blooming flowers and other
greenery. Some nice man-made touches include a gazebo, stone steps, and a stone
bridge across a pond area. Plenty of people come here for pictures, but it’s a
great place to go and relax as well.
3. The Garfield Trail (Grant County)
Garfield creator Jim Davis was
born in Fairmount, Indiana, and as a result, Grant County has erected 12
statues of the beloved cat for people to travel around and take pictures with.
These 5-foot felines are located in cities throughout Grant County at various
locations. If visitors are interested, there is a map available for download
online and a cell phone tour option that prompts you to go in a specific order.
The statues are up year-round (unless maintenance is being done), but the best
time to go out and do the trail would be the warmer months. Here's the link for the map: https://www.showmegrantcounty.com/places/grant-countys-garfield-trail/
4. 100 Acres @ The Indianapolis Museum of Art
(Indianapolis)
The official name for this area is
“The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park”, but many simply know it as
the 100 Acres. This park features plenty of hiking trails that go through
grassy areas, through a forest, and around a 35-acre lake. Along with just
hiking, visitors get to experience giant pieces of art along the way, some of
which are temporary/seasonal. “Funky Bones” from The Fault in Our Stars
is located here. The park is open daily from dawn til dusk.
5. Cardinal Greenway/Monon/Rivergreenway trails
(various locations)
Biking/walking trials abound in
Indiana, and the three most popular are the 3 listed here. The Cardinal
Greenway is a 62-mile trail stretching from Marion to Richmond. It also
connects to the Sweetser Switch trail, which goes from Marion to Converse. This
trail is well kept up, though there are portions that go on roads. The Monon
trial is an 18-mile trail that runs from Westfield to the north part of
downtown Indy. Tourism has helped boost the economy of the areas that it goes
through, and it typically sees over a million visitors per year. The
Rivergreenway in Fort Wayne covers 25 miles and gives visitors a look at
beautiful scenery along multiple rivers that flow through town.
6. Fort Wayne Museum of Art: Thursdays from 5-8pm
(Fort Wayne)
This Fort Wayne Museum is located
just north of the downtown area and has plenty of fascinating exhibits to look
at. The exhibits here rotate every 6-12 weeks or so, so there is always
something new to see and take in. These different displays showcase items like
charcoal drawings, toy collections, sculptures, paintings, and much more. The
Museum has general hours of 10am-6pm Tues-Sat, but on Thursdays they stay open
til 8 and admission is free from 5-8pm! Parking is also free as long as there
isn’t an event going on that day. For info on current exhibitions, use this link: https://www.fwmoa.org/Exhibitions
7. College Tour (various locations)
It may seem silly to think of just
going to a college to wander around, but Indiana colleges boast some beautiful
campuses. Two of the most well-known colleges to walk around are IU and Notre
Dame, though for different reasons. IU offers plenty of nature, while Notre
Dame’s buildings are what take up the main focus of visitors. Smaller colleges
can offer a lot as well, such as the lush greenery of Huntington University or
the many walking paths at Indiana Wesleyan. Plus, this activity is perfect for
those who enjoy people watching.
8. Indy Canal (Indianapolis)
I mentioned the canal on my 15
Things to Do in Indianapolis entry, and for good reason. This 3-mile walking
loop feels so different than walking the streets of downtown Indy, but it is
just a couple blocks away. The city has done a great job in making the Canal
Walk a peaceful place. Plenty of people utilize this area for exercising, and
there are some fun activities on the water as well, such as riding in a
gondola, kayaking, and pedal boats.
9. Nature Preserves (various locations)
Not to keep tooting my own horn,
but look no further than this link to find information about some great nature
preserves/free hiking that can be done in the Hoosier state: https://tylerbwhite.blogspot.com/2018/05/10-places-that-offer-free-hiking-in.html
Nature preserves are nice for hiking because
they usually aren’t super long trails, and unlike the state parks, they don’t
cost anything. They’re also less trafficked than state parks because less
people know about them. Some preserves offer great views of waterfalls and
cliffs, while others offer unique structures like potholes in a riverbed or the
limestone pillars along a river.
10. Concerts/Festivals (various locations)
There is plenty of live music to
be found in Indiana once it gets warm. Sure, you won’t find big name acts
performing for free, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be good music. Downtown
Huntington has had Music in the City once a month the past couple years in
summer, and Jefferson Pointe in Fort Wayne hosts live music every Friday night
in summer. Other great locations for free live music are Two-EE’s winery, Gas
City Park, and the Kokomo Performing Arts Pavilion. Plenty of festivals are
free as well, though all the food ones would likely end up taking some money if
you’re going to partake.
Here’s a list to some festivals
going on this year: https://tylerbwhite.blogspot.com/2018/01/10-indiana-festivals-to-mark-on-your.html
